Christine MADDEN

Dr Chris is a marine scientist and turtle expert with over 23 years of experience in ocean research, management and policy. She currently works as WWF’s Global Marine Turtle Conservation Lead, is an independent member and represents WWF on a number of IUCN specialist and Convention working groups and taskforces and is a founding member of several working groups. She has published over 30 academic papers and supervises several PhD and Masters students. Chris is a well-respected scientist and currently oversees WWF’s global marine turtle program across more than 30 countries on a variety of issues including overexploitation, the illegal trade, pollution, bycatch and climate change. She directs and co-founded ShellBank, a global marine turtle DNA and forensic traceability tool, and leads the Blue Corridors for Turtles program. Her PhD was focused on hawksbill turtle ecology and protection, with a strong focus on connecting science to policy action. She is an international wildlife and keynote speaker, and in all her work aims to be a voice for ocean conservation and strives to drive effective conservation, management and protection of the ocean through the lens of marine species and ecological connectivity.